Interactive Displays in Los Angeles, Nashville, and Mississippi Bring Music Making to the Masses

Authors: Corey Fournier and Jim Bybee

Roland is pleased to announce that our ongoing educational partnership with the GRAMMY Museum continues to evolve and grow. Since 2009, Roland LIVE has been a popular exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, and it’s been recently refreshed with the latest gear and new interactive displays. Just last month, the GRAMMY Museum opened a new location in the heart of blues country—Cleveland, Mississippi—and Roland LIVE can be found there as well. In addition, the museum invited us to install a new Roland LIVE exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum Gallery, which is part of the Musicians Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.

Free Download for the JD-XA Analog/Digital Crossover Synth

With its exceptional analog/digital sound and innovative crossover design, the JD-XA has been lauded as one of Roland’s most powerful synths ever. Now, JD-XA owners have access to new librarian software that makes it easy to back up, organize, and archive patches on a Mac or Windows computer. Available as a free download, the librarian also provides an integrated portal to the growing collection of JD-XA patch collections at Roland’s Axial website.

Pro Performance, Ultra-Quiet Operation

One of the major advantages of Roland’s V-Drums is easy volume control and the ability to practice quietly with headphones. But if you live in an apartment, condo, or small house, you may encounter situations where you need to quiet your V-Drums down even further to avoid disturbing others. Now, we have a powerful solution to these problem situations. With the new KT-9 Kick Trigger Pedal and FD-9 Hi-Hat Controller, you can dramatically reduce the operational noise of playing V-Drums with no sacrifice in feel or playability.

VIP Green Room and Jam Space at SXSW in Austin

Roland and BOSS had a fantastic time at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, where we partnered with Quantum Collective to host a VIP green room tent and jam space for performers during the 5th Annual Southwest Invasion live music event. Taking place over three days, the event featured performances by great artists like Talib Kweli, Gingger Shankar, Jamie Kent, Third Eye Blind, and many others. Before and after their sets, all the performers hung out at the private Roland/BOSS VIP lounge, talking about music and checking out our latest gear, including new BOSS effects, Roland AIRA instruments, and the ELCajon EC-10.

New Audio Demos of the JP-08, JU-06, and JX-03 Sound Modules

If you’ve been lusting after the warm, rich sounds of Roland’s classic JUPITER-8, JUNO-106, and JX-3P analog synths from the 1980s and can’t get your hands on the originals, you won’t get any closer than the Roland Boutique series. Consisting of the JP-08, JU-06, and JX-03 sound modules, the series employs Roland’s acclaimed Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology to recreate the sound and response of the original legends with stunning accuracy. If you haven’t had a chance to hear the Roland Boutique series in person, check out the great new audio demos we’ve recently created using the factory patches in each module.

Portable Wireless Sound System for Mobile Devices

The JC-01 Bluetooth Audio Speaker has the classic look of the Roland Jazz Chorus amp.

For more than 40 years, the legendary Jazz Chorus series has stood alone as the benchmark in clean amplification for guitar. Now, Roland brings the famous JC tradition to the world of Bluetooth speakers for smartphones and tablets. The all-new JC-01 is a wireless active playback device that delivers ultra-clean stereo sound with rich, deep bass. With its cool look and portable design, the JC-01 is the perfect mobile companion for guitar fans, music lovers, and anyone who wants great sound on the go.

Compact Guitar Amp with Authentic Tube Logic Tone

The Blues Cube Hot is available in Vintage Blonde or Black.

Roland has just introduced the Blues Cube Hot, a powerful compact combo with 30 watts of power and a 12-inch speaker. The latest member of the acclaimed Blues Cube guitar amp series is great for home and studio use, yet still delivers plenty of volume for gigging. Like all Blues Cube amps, the Blues Cube Hot features Roland’s Tube Logic design, which provides authentic tube tone and touch response with modern advantages like lighter weight and maintenance-free operation.

Premium Cables, Bags, and More

Roland has just introduced an all-new line of premium music accessories available through authorized dealers. The initial Roland Accessories launch presents more than 100 different products, including audio and MIDI cables, keyboard carrying bags, lifestyle gear, and more. All the accessories carry the official Roland brand, and many more selections will be added over the coming months.

Six Questions with a Successful Indie Artist and Music Entrepreneur

Dan Silver on stage with the Roland SYSTEM-1 and JD-Xi synths.

Authors: Igor Len and Jim Bybee

Today’s music creators often diversify their talents among several creative endeavors and business opportunities at once, and Dan Silver is a shining example of the modern-day musician/entrepreneur. In addition to leading his band MOON, he oversees creative operations and marketing as Vice President of Creative for Riptide Music Group, a music licensing company. But he doesn’t stop there—Dan is also the co-founder, executive producer, and talent curator for Quantum Collective and their Southwest Invasion during SXSW in Austin, and somehow finds enough time left over to produce records and remixes for various artists and bands.